Half to frederick william watson



(No Model.) .4 Sheets-Sheet 1. W; A. ESTES. APPARATUS FOR TRANSPLANTING TREES,

910.423.7 16. Patented Mar. 18, 1890.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. A. ESTES. APPARATUS FOR TRANSPLANTING TREES,

N0.423,746. v Patented Mar.18,1890

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. A. ESTES. APPARATUS FOR TRANSPLANTING TREES-1 No. 423,746." Patented Mar. 18, 1890.

(No Model.) 4i'1eets-sheet 4.

w. A; ESTES. APPARATUS FOR TRANSPLANTING TREE S No. 423,746; Patented vMar. 18, 1890. A

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's elevation of said wagon. Fig. 4 is an en- 59' of said axle is journaled a ground-wheel B,

To all whom it may concern.-

, v cipally, in the means-employed for supportmg the trunk-of a tree, substantially as and i may be constructed separately and afterward -UNITED STATES WILLIAM AUSTIN ESTES, OF VASSALBOROUGH, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- PATENT OF ICE.

HALF TO FREDERICK WILLIAM WATSON, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

APPARATUS FOR- l'lRANSPLANTlNG TREES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,746, dated March 18, 1890.

Application filed October 1, 1889. Serial No. 325,638. (No model.) Patented in Canada May 1, i889, No. 31,223.

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM AUSTIN ESTES, of Vassalborough, in the county of'Kennebee, and in the State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Transplanting Trees, (for which I have obtained a patent in the Dominion of Canada, No. 31,223, bearing date of May 1,- 1889;) and I do hereby declare that the fol-. lowing is a full, clear, andexact description thereof, reference being had to accompany- I ing drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my wagon as used for the transportation of a tree. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is aside larged elevation of the rear end of said wagon; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the spring-bolster.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The object of my invention is to facilitate the transplantation of trees and to enable them to be easily and safely transported; to which end my said invention consists, prinfor the purpose hereinafter specified.

It consists, further,in the means employed for supporting the roots of a tree, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown;

It consists, further, in the means employed for connecting andrelatively adjusting the trunk and roots supporting parts of my apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

It consists, finally, in the combination of the rear and front axles with their connecting parts, substantially as and'for the purpose hereinafter shown and described.

In the carrying'of my invention into practice I employ an axle A, which has the usual straight form, and upon its upper side is provided with an extension A, that substantially doubles its vertical dimensions. Said extension may be formed with said axle, or

attached thereto, as desired. Upon each end Upon the front and rear sides each of the axle A are secured two strips a and a, which are arranged vertically and in parallel lines, and between each pair of the same is placed a strip 0, that corresponds in width to the space and has preferably a length equal to about twice the combined width of said axle and its upward extension. Said strips are connected at their lower ends by means of a block 0, thatextends between and is attached to the same, while at their upper ends said strips are connected by means of avsecond block 0, which fills the space between the same and has each of its ends projecting be; yond the edges thereof, as shown. The strips 0 and 0, thus connected, form a bolster which is adjustable vertically upon or with relation to the axle A, and when so adjusted may be secured in place by means of pins D and D, that are inserted within coinciding holes a and c and a and a, which are formed, respectively, in said bolster and axle. Several of said holes a and c are provided in said bolster, so as to permit of its adjustment to various heights. In order that such adjustment" may be readily effected, the Weightof said bolster is supported by means of two springs E and E, one of which is placed between each projecting end .of the block 0 and the upper side of theaxlcextension A. To the upper end of said bolster is secured a plate or tree- "saddle F, that transversely has a concave upper side, is arranged at a right angle to the line of the axle, has about one-fourth of its which furnishes a 'rolling'support therefor.

length in front of said axle, and has a rearward and an upward inclination, as shown. A bracket E placed between the rear side of said bolster E and the under side of the rear portion of said saddle F, strengthens, the connection between said parts and furnishes an additional support for the latter.

With the axle A and its connecting parts I employ another or front axle G, which has journaled upon each of its ends a groundwheel H and has connected with its front side a 'pole I, that is provided with the usual means for attaching thereto a span of draft-animals.

To the rear side of the axle G is connected in any usual manner aplatform K, which has v the form shown in Fig. 2 and withinits rear wide portion is provided with four rollers i and 70, that are journaled upon horizontal axles, which are arranged at a right angleto the line of draft. Said platform is connected with the rear axle A by means of two chains L and L, one of which extends from each side of the former upward and around a roller or Windlass-spool M, that is journaled upon the lower side of said axle, is adapted to be turned by means of a bar, and upon one end is provided with a ratchet-wheel m, which is engaged by a pawl m to prevent backward movement of said roller.

The chains L and L furnish a strong connection between the rear axle A and platform K; but for additional security I employ a number 0t guard-chains, two of which N and N are on ec ed wi h a ten id asq al etween the front side of said axle and the central POrtiQH 0f. Said platform. Two others N and N in like manner extend between the rear side of Said axle and the rear end of said platform, while tw o her ain 0 nd Q e n b tween and are, connected with the latter and the front and rear ends of the saddle F.

The 'apparatusis now ready for. use as follows,fviz The 'rear axle or truck is disconnected from the platform and moved close to the. t 'ree which is to be transplanted and the saddleturnedupwardagainst the same and ic r ly astene the et by p pe chains, or. in any desired manner, after which the roots 'of the tree are'loosened, and said tree by means of a'suitable tackle is drawn over until itsweight is supported by saidtruck. The

platform being now placedbeneath the rear axle, and connected therewith by means ofthe Windlass-chains, is raised until it supports the roots Off the tree and the guard-chains then connected. When a tree has been thus suspended, it'may be readily and safely moved to the place where it is to be reset, when by reversing the removing operation said tree may be placed in position and held until its roots are covered with soil, the entire proceedings being carried on without the difficulties and dangers that usually attend the transplanting of trees which have attained any considerable size. f

In order that a tree may be more securely held in'lateral'position upon the saddle, a

number of sharp metal studs f and f are preferably caused to project upward from the latter at points near its ends, which studs engage with thebark of the tree and operate to insure its position. To facilitate the securing of said 3 saddle to the trunk of a tree, there is preferably a number of studs f and f secured within and caused to project laterally from the side edges of the'same, which studs serve as supports for the feet of the operator and enable him to readily climb to the top of said saddle when the same occupies a vertical position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a tree-transplanting apparatus, the

combination of a Wheeled truck, a verticallyadjustable bolster, and a saddle which is secured to the upper sideof such bolster and is adapted to receive and sustain the trunk of a tree, substantially as and for the purpose specified. l

2. In combination with the axle of therear truck, e hei t-er adapted t be moved cally t r n, he p n wh ch. on h bol e poems and espi v 'si tha act t c t b hn t i j sh aid holster, subst many asand for." the purpose ow -F IL I i,

3. In combination with the reartruck, which is da erl o up o r e n an was osition, the platform is pivotally c' nnected thth'e f nt t c and 1 oI nr-ste w th the rear truck by chains which may beeperated to raise said platform into contact with the roots of the tree, for:

the purposeset forth. 1

' with. e 'pl t wm, snil'i'n" mbin tibn; t r with, chains which are each at one end fastened to said'platform, and windl'ass-spools that r ou na d pon he M161 of a truck and each adapted to, receive and wind the upper end of one ofsaid chaina'substantially as and for the purpose shown and described. Q

5, In combination with the rear tr.uck,'the platform, the chains and windlassusjed for connecting the same together, and guardchains which are attached toand ext-end beas and for the purpose specified.

6. The tree -transp lanting apparatus in the connecting-platform, and the mechanism for adjusting the rear end of such platform, substantially as and for the purpose $11Qwn.

have hereunto set my hand this ith of June, A. 1). 1ss9.- WILLIAM AUSTIN ESTES.

Witnesses: ALEXANDER MOLEAN,

CHARLES WATSON.

4. As a means for connecting the rear tru ck tween said truck and platform,"substantially which is combined the front and rear'trif jchs,

In testimony that I claim the "foregoing I no 

